Centering gauge



Sept. 20, 1.932. v. P. SCHMIDT ET A1. 1,878,296

` CENTERING GAUGE 'A l Filed June '551931 2 sheets-sheet 1 JNVENToR:

f & BY rrgmuwum v TTbRNE-ys. i

Sept. 20, 1932 l v. P.-scHM|DT ET AL 1,878,296

CENTERING' GAUGE I Filed June 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 210, 1932 PTNT omer vvrctroia r. SCHMIDTy AND HARRY A. BRENAMAmoF AL'rooNA, PENNSYLVNIA cENrEarNe GAUGE Application filed `.Time 9, 19131.- Seriall 543,047.

This invention relates to centering'gauges and ymore particularly to gauges used for centering annular objectsupon shafts Which are Wholly or partlyy cylindrical.r The inven-k 5 tion isespecially applicable to the centering of annular bearings upon a locomotive axle f preparatory to the assembling of a revolving tool thereon, for performing a grinding or other similar operation upon the journals of the axle. ySuch a tool is shown in our copending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 543,046, liled June 9, 1931,.` rlhe primary object of the invention is to provide a gauge of this type characterized by simplicity of construction, With resulting economy in the manufacture of its constituent parts; easeof assembling;y and accuracy in setting.

A further object of the invention is to pro*- vide, in such a gauge means :tor` locking a ring of fixed diameter in concentric relation to a cylindrical shaft, the diameter of Which may vary Within certain limits. l

l ther .objects and advantages characteris tic of our invention will become more fully apparent from thedescriptipn of one embodiment or example thereof which follows'lili-ire#k inafter, and which has reference to the accompanying drawings.` Of the drawings Fig. I represents a side elevation of a centering gauge of our invention in assem`` bled position upon a locomotive axle.

Fig. II represents an end elevation of' the same. l Fig. IIIrepresents a similar'end elevation with certain parts broken avvay to show therv relation between the centering'gauge andthe device tol be centered on thel axle; and,

i be assumed to yconstitute a journal about to" be trued to accurate dimensions by af grinding tool, such as shown 1n our pending apy "D plication previously referred to. Adjacent O Fig. IV representsa perspective 'vieW' of' a ball-retaining ring Which .forms apart ofv tothe journal -1 there is aV cylindrical portion 2 uof less diameter upon which an annular bearing B is to be mounted in concentrick re-l lation with the axle as a step preparatory assembling` thereon the complete grinding 55 machine. Of course, however, the centering gauge of this invention will be found to have many other applications than the particular one tovvhich reference is here made for the purpose of illustrating `one exampley of the en use of the gauge.

, 'lh'e centering gauge C comprises generally ti'yo parallel spaced centering rings 3,'ball'-I retaining rings 4, and a number of straight edges 5 connecting the centering rings. The U5 straight edges 5 in the example herein illustra-ted, which are four in number, are'formed in the shape of flat bars tapering in. Width froml the center tovvardsthe ends. Upon the centering rings 3 thcre'areradially disposed 7o slots' 6 Which accommodate the ends of the' straight edges 5 `in equally spaced relation; A' preferred methodl of securing the straight edges vvithin their respective s'lots 6v is by Weldingy at 7. Y

vThe centering rings 3 Which are counter'-V partsofv eachV other comprise split sections as'- sembld together about the axle A' by meansV of tongue and groove joints 8 through virhich slightly tapered pins 9are inserted. These 80' rings Sare preferably" made in two or more pieces't'to permitV their application to locomotive or car: axles to' which WheelsV are'pe'rna# nentlyattached.l Theinn'er surfaceof each ring'` isannular throughout" the areasdesl S5 ignated at 10, and'between theseareas there are" eccentricV depressionsV 11 symmetrically spaced and deii'ned V by the arcs of circles drawn from centers as indicated by theradii shownin broken lines. AtAv the endio'f 90 each eccentric ndepression" 11 lthere is av cir cular cavity 12 Witliin'wliichthe balls 13L of the ball-retaining ring 4u 'are'initia'lly accomniodated ywhen the gauge is* first applied to uieshafti 1 Each retaining ring 4 together with the balls l'carried thereby constitutes a ball' race tting snugly" Within and "revolving on the anniilarE inne'r slirface's 10 yof Vthe corn panioncenteringring 3;'- The'` balls 13'I (or im roller members, or alternatively, wedge mem'-v Y bers, as we prefer to designate them because `their function is more important than their particular shape) are equally spaced about the retaining ring 4 vand are held in curved sockets 14. While in the present example of 'the invention three such Vroller members 13 'are shownfor`-each retainingring-4, there beinga corresponding number of eccentric depressions 11 in the companion centering" ring13, ,it may, however-,be found desirable to employ four or more roller members, and such isqwithin the contemplation of'this mvention. The retainingrings 4assho/wnin, Fig. IV, are also made up o'f split' sections joined together at their ends by keysl.

,To revolve pa retaining ring 4'withinits cempanion centering ring .3, andihence to move theballs into wedging engagementA between the'cylindrical surface 1 of, the axle and the'eccentric depress-ions 11, ahandle 16 isprovided. Thishandle 16 is attached to the retaining ring 4 by means of a plate 17 andscrews 18. Each handle 16 is provided with a reinforced portion having an arcuate surface 19 which is adapted to be engaged by a thumb screw 20. kThe screw 2O is inserted in a correspondingly threaded hole`21 in one of the straight` edges 5, and said screw isprovided at its ends with a wing piece 22 which is conveniently engaged by the thumb andi iingersof the operator for turning the same. Y

, `As, shown in Fig. I, the annular bearing B f to be centered on the axle A comprises a pair H l The operation ofthe centering lgauge is as of split rings 23 spaced in .parallel relation by means of connecting members .24. The sections of each split ring 2.3 are secured to each other, aswell as spaced from the other ring, by means of plates 25 and bolts 26. To aflix, the bearingv rings 23 upon theaxle A,

machine screws27lare provided, there beingv theretaining rings 4 are assembled and-in-A Vserted,within the centering rings. 3. j In the initial position theballs 13` of the retaining Y rings4 will vbe accommodated within the *cir-j cular ends of the' eccentric depressions V11.

Assuming A,that `the axle is of slightlylessdi-- amete'r `than f, that shown lin the drawings (whichfis the maximum diameter togwhich. the gaugek may be applied) the: retaining rings .4 are vrevolved within their respective;

centering'l rings 3 byy means ofthe handles 16,. which are moved in acounter-clockwise dil"k rection as viewed in Figf.,III.-This causes thev balls 13 to move simultaneously along their respective eccentric surfaces 11 which Ain turn causes the balls 13 to move inwardly finaladjnstment of the relative positions of the retaining rings 4` and the centering rings 3. In either'event, the thumb screws 20 regulate the final positions of the two rings. When the thumb screws20 have been turned to pressurer engagement with the handles 16, the retaining rings 4 become locked with respect to their centering rings 3.' If the axle :A should,A be somewhat smaller in diameter than that shown in the drawings, the handles 16 will, when the gauge is locked, occupy some such position as that ,shown Vin broken lines in Fig. III. g Meanwhile the annular bearing rings 23, which are of such4 dimensions that they lit accurately between the straight edges 5, have been-automatically adjustedy by reason of their engagement with the straightl edges 5 to assume a concentric relation to the ournal 1. of the axle A. With the .parts of the centering gauge locked, the screws -27 of the annular bearing rings 23 are forced into engagement with the portion 2 of the' axle. Accordingly, the annular bearing B is securely attached to the axle in the desired position.

` In removing' the gauge lfrom the axle, the

screw 2O is` turned inthe reverse` directionl which allows the balls 13 to slip backward towards the circular sockets 12. l Subsequently the sections of the 4centering rings 3l and of the retaining rings 4 yare separated and the parts are removed from the axle] After the gauge has been removed the grinding machine previously referred to maybe mounted on Vthe annular bearing B. n i

While we Vhave described our invention with regard to Vone example thereof, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the formoftheconstituent parts of the apparatus as herein describedwithout departing from the spirit of our-invention as defined in the Claims hereto annexed. It will be further apparentthatthe centering gauge may be adapted for use in connection with the centering of annular objects-upon shafts of a variety of forms. v A IIaving thus described our invention, we claim-c. 1 -V Y., l

l. A gauge for centering an objectfupon a shaft comprising a centering ringhaving inner cam surfaces, a straight edge carried by said kcentering r1ng,roller members adaptldf'to engage Said Cam Surfaces ofthe l ring and aV portion of the shaft, andlmeaiis members on said cam surfaces to l:clamp the ring in concentric relation tothe shaft.

' .2. A gauge forcentering anobjectjupon a shaftcomprising a centering ring having inner cam surfaces, a straightl edgejcarried.,v

by ksaid centering ring, roller; "members adaptedto engage said cam'surfaces oftheVV centering. ring and {'a portionfofV the shaft, andra retaining i ring connecting said' roller members, saidl retaining ,ringbeing revolv-V able'vvithin said centering ring Ato advance the position of said rollerf members on saidcam: surfaces Wherebythe `centering ring may be clamped in concentric relationto the shaft.

3. Av gauge for centering an object lupon a shaft Vcomprising a-centering ring having i an annular inner 'surface With spaced dejY pressions therein,'1 said depressions having surfaces eccentric gto said annular surface,`

a straight edge carried said vcentering ring, roller `members housed in said `depres` sions andadaptedto Ybear upon a portion of the shaft, and meansv guided bythe vannular inner surface of said centeringringfj for simultaneously;advancing said roller members infsaid depressions to clamp the centering ring ,in-.concentric relation I to .the shaft.. Y

` V4. A gaugefor centering-an object v"upon a shaft comprising a centering ring having an annularinner surface with spaceddepres-,-V sions therein, 'said depressions having sur;v

faces eccentric toV said annularvsurface, a

straight edge carriedby said centering ring,

roller members housed Within said VVdepressions and adapted tobearV upon a portion 'ofA a shaft, and a retaining ring connecting said roller members, said retainingfringbeing revolvable on the annular innersurfaceof said centering ring to advance the po'sitionfof:A saidV roller members on ysaid depressions whereby the centering-ring may be clamped Vin concentric relation to `the shaft. 5. Agauge f orcenteringian object uponV- a shaft comprising a centeringring having i inner cam surfaces, Va straightedgefcarried by said centering .ring,roller "members Vadapted to engage said cam'V surfaces ofthe centering ring and a'portion ofthe shaft, aV

retaining y ring connecting said rollerfmembers, said f retaining ring being revolvable Within saidfcentering ring to advance the position of said roller members on said earn surfaces, and means for locking saidretaiiry i in revolved position.V 1

ing ring V With respectV tosaid centeringring.

6. A Igauge for centering an object upon a shaft comprising a centering ring having inner cam surfaces, a straightedge carried Y by 'said centering..4 ring, roller "members adapted to engage said-cam surfaces ofthe "ring and a portion of the shaft,fa retaining V ring connectingV said rollerfmembers, said ieeiningiifiiifg be'g revoivabie Y wah-'ia an 'l Afor simultaneously i advancing said roller 'centering'fringmto advance-the positionfl'of `V V regulating the positionjof VYhandle Withirespect to aJ-fixed ,pointofnthef centeringring, i thereby ,determining the` positions `.occupiecli by.csaid-rollermembersaonrsaid Lcamsi'irfaces-i.

gauge. for centering faniobject'rupon said .rollermembers lonls'aid 4cam.:'su ifaces`,f a handle onsaidretainingringnand means forV a a sha .ft comprising a centering ring having innercamsurfaces, ai straight ,edgecarr'ied s aidcenteringring, roller members adap surface [and a sc'revvcarriedby" the centering ringladaptedto engagev vsaid` arcuate surfacefv I fonregulatinglthe position-i` of tsa'idihandle f with respec'ttoa fixed-*point on the centering centric surfaceszy j8. "gaugeforcentering anl obj ec'tfuponfa Y shaft comprising a split ring having L inner cam surfaces,k aistraight edge; carriedbysai'd V- split ring, balls engagingrsaid, cam .surfaces andadapted v to-bearljiipon azfportion oftheV shaft, and means forsimultaneously advanc:V ,ingsaid balls `on said camsurfaces to clamp", thering in concentric relation to the shaft. A gauge lfor centeringan object `'uponfa shaftk comprising Ia Vvpair of parallel sjgiaced g ringsfhaving inner cam' surfaces, ajconnec V tion betvveensaid rings in-the'fform of avl straight edge, Wedge members adapted to: be interposed"betvveenY the shaft, and said cani tric relation tothe shaft.

surfaces, a straight edge connectingv said cen# 1,11;Ajgaugefori'centeringjan' object-upon` y ya 'shaft comprising apair. offfparallel spaced i centering rings having inner annular sur-125f faces vvith spaced cavities therein,- said 'cav-` ities having 4surfaces leccentric to rsaid'fan'-`Vr 105i surfaces ofgthe ring,`an'd means Vv for advancV .ing said vvedgememberstogether'along said ycam surfaces to .clamp said rings Aiii concen1l 10. Agauge forcenteringan objectfuponja o" i shaftzvcomprisingffa pair of 'paralleli spaced centering rings having inner annularsurf'a'ces vvvith spaced cavities' therein, said cavities having y surfaces eccentric 'to2- said .,annular nularfsurfac'es, a straight y'edge connecting said vcenterir'ig rings, 'roller members inter# posed betvveenfthe shaft and said cavitiesbf f i thecentering rings, retaining rings carryingl 4 Y Y A 1,878,296

said roller members and revolvable on said centering rings to vary simultaneously the positions of said roller members Within their respective cavities, and meansfor locking Y said retaining rings-With respect to said centering rings in revolved positions. 4 12.`A gauge forlcentering an object upon a'sliaft comprising a pair of parallel spaced centering'rings having inner annular surfaces'alternating with eccentric surfaces, a straight edge connecting said centering rings, ball racesV revolvable on said annular surfaces `of said centering rings With the balls Y v thereof engaging said eccentric surfaces, and

means for lockingsaid ball races With respect to said centering rings in revolved positions.

13. A gauge for centering an object upon a shaftcomprising a pair of parallel spaced centering rings having inner annular surfaces alternating with eccentric surfaces, a straight edge connecting said centering rings, ball races revolvable onsaid annular surfaces of said centering rings with the balls thereof engaging said eccentric surfaces, and thumb screws for regulating the relative positions l of said ball races and centering rings.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto signedour names at Altoona, Pennsylvania, this 27th day of May, 1931'. Y

VICTOR P` SCHMIDT. HARRY A. BRENAMAN. 

